There is one thing to know something, but it is another to use what you know in a proper manner. This is shown in James 1:22 "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves....v25. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does."
When the apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians, his prayer was that the Colossians be filled. It is not hard to understand the concept of be filled. You need to fill the container to the point where it will not take anymore. That is what being filled is about. Cramming as much knowledge as you can into your tiny little brain.
But there are also warnings about filling your mind with too much junk. The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us that much knowledge is vanity. Yes, we all know those people who read and read and put all sorts of knowledge into their tiny little brains, but when it comes to common sense and understanding these things in light of the big picture, they are often found lacking.
It is important to fill our minds up with the right material. We could spend hours learning about error and those who teach error, and why their teaching is so dangerous, but if we would just learn the truth, all that other knowledge would not be necessary.
I enjoy trivia of all sorts, and filling my mind with such trivia might get someone thinking that I am a pretty smart fellow. But that would be deceiving. Just because you know facts, statistics, and have read the Guiness book of world records does not mean you have the right kind of knowledge.
There is nothing wrong with having knowledge. In many cases, it is an advantage to having the right kind of knowledge. We see this in the workplace. We know that knowing certain facts will help a student advance to the next grade. We can also know the unwritten codes of common sense in order to not be considered a dummy.
The point of this article is to press us towards a stronger knowledge of the will of God. Normally, people do not receive this knowledge through osmosis, or just wishing to have knowledge does not bring it about. It can only come from being taught this knowledge. For us we can hear it in a sermon, read it in an article, bulletin, or newspaper. But the ultimtate way to receive the knowledge of God is to study it.
We are commanded to apply diligence in studying the word (1 Timothy 3:15). Why?
Because we need to get it right. God gave us the word and it is fully sufficient to do what God wants it to do. Teach us His ways.
Having the knowledge of God does not make us a Christian, or anything else for that matter. When we apply this knowledge and seek to serve the Lord in spirit and truth, it is then that we get it.
The knowledge of His will means that we learn what God wants us to do in our lives, in our worship, and in our relationship with Him. We continue to learn, and this causes spiritual growth. There is where we need to be going with knowledge. To grow spiritually. To become complete, or as we mentioned in previous articles, to become perfect as Jesus our Lord was perfect.
Perfection can only come through the knowledge of His will, and us understanding that will, and doing that will.

By Carey Scott via the Eastside church of Christ bulletin 02/27/2011

Return to the General Articles page